Concerns about the New World screwworm have put Texas pet adoptions on hold

The discovery of the New World screwworm in Texas has led to a halt in adoptions for thousands of dogs and cats, potentially jeopardizing their lives. The flesh-eating parasite, which can infect mammals, has crossed the border from Mexico after 60 years. This threat to the nation's $113 billion beef industry has prompted federal officials to close the border to cattle movements.

As a result, most states, including Texas, have restricted the movement of animals from infested areas, leading to overcrowded conditions in shelters that depend on adoptions for rehoming animals. This situation has created difficulties for shelters, especially those in Texas that typically send animals to other states, such as New York, causing population increases in some shelters.

In Corpus Christi, the Gulf Coast Humane Society had to increase outdoor exercise areas for dogs after failing to send them to New York for weeks. The shelter had to consider euthanizing more animals if it ran out of space. Texas has the highest number of unadopted dogs and cats among all states, with nearly 89,000 dogs and 53,000 cats transferred out of shelters in 2025 alone.

The state also leads in euthanizing dogs and cats, with 45,000 and 29,000 respectively. Warm weather allows stray animals to survive longer and breed more, contributing to the problem. Veterinarians and advocates attribute the high number of stray animals to Texas pet owners' reluctance to spay or neuter their pets. The situation has put a strain on the already resource-limited animal welfare system, highlighting the need for better funding, resources, and spaying and neutering programs to prevent more animals from ending up in shelters.